Hey guys I just wanted to know how did u guys find out your surgery date. Was it after all the tests were done? I'm halfway there and I wanted to call and ask but dont want to be annoying. Should I call

Usually your surgeon's office will begin to consider scheduling once you've satisfied all requirements including insurance approval.

That means almost every appointment and test has been completed and all paperwork has been submitted.

Call and ask how much more in the process or when they are looking to schedule you for if you absolutely can't wait.

If you are a self pay/medical tourist it could be a way different time line.

Good luck!

I called frequently, even though it took me 8 months to get my surgery. My office understood and was quite patient. Couldn't hurt to call. Good luck!

I knew it was time when I had all pre-appointments and surgical clearances faxes to my surgeon's office, then I actually got an email from my insurance company telling me surgery had been approved for such-and-such date.

Once I finished all my insurance requirements

All of my prerequirements were done, some twice, quite a story behind THAT, had my presurgical July 17th, found out that day when it would be. Started on my liver-shrinking diet August 1st, met with a Internal medicine resident, who went over in great detail my previous surgeries, any reaction to anesthesia, went over my med list with a fine toothed comb, a lot of meds on there but truly boring type stuff. Gave me 2 bottles of a prep diet solution, one at midnight, other 2 hours prior to surgery.Made by Abbott Labs, the folks that make Ensure, also headquatered in Columbus, do I sleek a slight kickback there? Wanted to give me a nice big bottle of Hibiclens, get that nasty stuff Away from me, found out at previous surgery ( on my left knee) I am quite allergic, looked like somebody thrown acid on my poor leg. So I got special instructions , Dial Gold liquid soap, double shower, 2nd shower leave on 5 minutes and be sure to scrub your navel. Hnnnh? Turns out my surgeon Dr Needleman uses there as one of his portal sites, so I got 7 , one in the navel so it was made clear. At 6 months they have faded some much into the surrounding stretched marked territory they are not easy to find. Only one still clear is the one just below the sternum kinda between my breasts, that was where the liver retractor went in, and the liver shrink diet work, lost 15 pounds that month alone and he said my liver was small, sleek and smooth like a newborn calf, once I was certain he wasn't going to sell me for veal I felt pretty proud of ME..
Would I do it again? Oh no doubt, I have not had a textbook recovery but I'm more mad at my crabby old 73 year old body for mal- healing than I could the hospital, surgical procedure or my wonderful surgeon, in my ❤ he was and is a miracle worker. And to my dying day, and I don't plan to do that for years, I will be intensely grateful he took a chance on me when many programs would have turned me down on age alone. I fought seen and unseen hostilities for 3 long years to get Precious Pouch installed, although she is an ornery brat who rules my life, we will still make our final peace, the GERD freedom makes up for a lot of things, the blips, twists and turns in my bariatric journey . Basically we each write our own journal, in our lives, mine will be a cliff- hanger, you won't go to sleep if you read mine. ?

Yes, after all your tests, your bariatric office sends the paperwork to your insurance for approval. Then the scheduler at the bariatric office sets up your date. Then they call you with info. Good luck!

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Hey guys I just wanted to know how did u guys find out your surgery date. Was it after all the tests were done? I'm halfway there and I wanted to call and ask but dont want to be annoying. Should I call

My office had a list I have to complete, the surgeon wanted me to lose 5 more lbs then I was able to get a date.


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This might be a silly question but my doctor told me to lose 5% of my body weight before surgery. Do I need to lose this before the pre-op diet begins? Is this different for everyone?

@Rozay, I wasn’t allowed to lose any weight, was told to maintain for 6 months and then once I get insurance approval, I am allowed to lose as much as possible on the pre-op diet. I started with a BMI of 37 though and only 12 pounds from being under that magic number of 35. I’d call and ask.

My office wouldn't send anything in for insurance approval until i'd met all the requirements with diet and testing. Once that was done and we had the approval, I had to pay my surgeon's office $1500(my deductible) before they would schedule surgery.

Edited April 14, 20197 yr by ARMoma45